Description
What it does:
– Allows the clean repair of boards with damaged or missing pads, particularly for the electrolytic capacitors, avoiding bodge wires in a circuit that is quite sensitive.
– Allows a safe re-cap with extremely thick capacitor pads that will not damage easily.
– Pairs well with Cosam’s repro main board for a stylistic look.
What it does NOT do:
– Does not fix burned out lasers
– Does not fix dried out rails and gears
– Does not fix issues with focus or laser power from improper tuning of the pots
– Does not fix failed chips or other onboard components such as the limit switches or motors
– Does not fix issues from capacitor leaks on the mainboard, which sometimes cause disk read errors instead of the drive
Models:
The Sony drive train is generally found in NTSC-U/J models, while the JVC drive train is generally found in PAL models. There are occasional exceptions, so please confirm your drive model before ordering. This board is NOT compatible with JVC models.
There are three models of this board:
– 1-640-117-14 – Available now. Found in most export units and most 1992+ Japanese Mega CDs.
– 1-640-117-13 – Coming Soon. Used in most early 1991 Japanese Mega CDs.
– 1-640-117-12 – Coming Soon. Used in very early 1991 Japanese Mega CDs.
– 1-640-117-11 – Release TBD. Found only in the earliest launch window 1991 MegaCDs with very low serial numbers.
Compatibility Notes:
– 1-640-117-11 and 1-640-117-13 do not feature the EMI filtering circuit involving the F100 EMIFIL.
– This part is obsolete, has no good substitutes that fit the footprint, and is difficult to obtain secondhand, however it can be bypassed.
Project documentation: click here.
Installation video: click here.
Join the discussion on Discord by clicking here.
This project is Open Source Hardware. We believe in your right to repair! If you would like to see available schematics and board-views, please check the source repository here.
*Difficulty level is the opinion of Retro Upgrades. This kit is sold as DIY and requires soldering skills and lifting pins for the Model 1 install. Please review the documentation and make sure you are confident in installing this kit prior to purchasing!
Disclaimer: This is a very advanced project. Significant skill in soldering and desoldering is required, along with the appropriate tools. Please review the documentation and/or install video carefully before purchasing to understand the project requirements. You will need to purchase a compatible donor unit, and optionally, any parts you wish to use new separately. There is no guarantee that you can make a successful build simply by purchasing this product. There is no warranty on this item once you start soldering on it.
